12 



Mr C. S. France said he considered that the invitation to 

 the President should have been sent through the Secretary of 

 the branch and not direct to the President. 



Sir John Stirling-Maxwell, in moving the adoption of the 

 report, said that with regard to what Mr Buchanan and Mr 

 France had said it is quite possible that a mistake had been 

 made in that matter. Certainly no one wished to do other than 

 honour to the Aberdeen branch. That branch was a living 

 thing, and the Society there was flourishing in a district where 

 forestry was in evidence on a larger scale than in any other 

 part of Scotland, and where it had the prospect of development. 



Chairman's Remarks. 



The Chairman said : — " I am very proud that you have placed 

 me in the Chair to-day to preside over a meeting of a Society 

 with which I am glad to say I have been for a very long time 

 connected, and I am sure at the same time you will regret with 

 me the absence of our President, Colonel Stirling, whose letter I 

 read to you. Along with him many others are taking upon 

 themselves the burden which falls upon the whole country in 

 carrying on this disastrous war, which has been brought about 

 in Europe by no wish of the people of Great Britain. But as 

 it is now upon us it is our duty to see it through in the right 

 way by every means in our power, and I am sure the Society 

 appreciates the patriotism of those of its members who have 

 joined His Majesty's forces and are bearing their full share of 

 the burden which is now on the whole country. We shall have 

 a Roll of Honour, and there will be many names upon that roll. 

 Already the Secretary has intimation of some fifty names among 

 our members who are now, or have been since the commence- 

 ment of the war, serving in the forces of the Empire, and there 

 will be many more names to come in. I ask you individually, those 

 of you who may know of any of your friends who are members 

 serving in that way, to intimate the same to the Secretary, so that 

 the roll may be made as complete as possible. We have various 

 things to congratulate ourselves upon, I am glad to say, during 

 this year that has passed, and so have some of our individual 

 members. I am sure members will join with me in congratu- 

 lating Lord Lovat on the dignity of Knight of the Thistle which 

 has been bestowed on him. Lord Lovat we look upon as one of 



